TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4303, 12 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

THE ROYAL VISIT

It is expected that about throe thousand Maoris will assemble at Rotorua from all parts of the oolony to takepart in the reception to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. The Government intends giving special facilities to the Maoris to enable all the tribes in the colony to be represented. It will probably be the last of the great gatherings of the natives of this colony. The Government 'has decided that on the night of the arrival of the Royal party in New Zealand the Government Buildings throughout the colony will be specially iUurninnted, and to this end the transparencies made for the celebration |oi peace in* South Africa will be brought into use. The big centres are to hare their Royal as guests, and it is considered only fair that the residents in the country districts should also have the features of our distinguished guests pictured to them by means of transparencies. It is expected, of course, that private individuals will also pirovide illuminations and fireworks. With this end in view, the Government intends to import large quantities of fireworks, to be retailed duty free to municipalities and members of the general public. The Government is going to advise bis Excellency the Governor to communicate with the Consuls of foreign nations in Australia with a view to securing the presence of tire men-o’-war of the European Powers in New Zealand waters on the occasion of the Royal visit. It is also proposed to invite the local representatives of foreign nations to erect triumphal arches in the streets of the principal centres, in a manner similar to that adopted at the Commonwealth celebrations. “A FORGOTTEN STATESMAN.” Mr John Plimmer, “ Father of Wellington” writes;—l am pleased to see from the “Times ” that Mrs Storr, a stranger to Wellington, should call to the memory of the people of this city the neglect they have shown to the greatest colonial statesman which perhaps England ever produced. His farsightedness and untiring energy certainly deserve a better fate than to be forgotten, especially by the citizens of Wellington, who are now reaping the benefit of his labours. When I built the Albert Hotel, I got a photo of Mr Wakefield and cub a statue and placed it on the top of the parapet wall, along f with carved: representations of many of i the old settlers, who are now" dead, to keep them in remembrance for a little while; but heart of totara will not last for ever. I likewise purchased an oileainting of Edward Jermingham Wakefield, _ full-sized, which I still have in the billiard-room of the hotel. It is a very good likeness, and was painted by Mr Beetham, who resided at the Hutt, ind is now almost forgotten. In this way we shall soon lose sight of all the forefathers of New Zealand—great men who ived, fought and died, to''establish, the mlony. It is a pity, but it is true. I iee from a letter in the “Times” the )ther day that there are some people vho would take the money given for the

Queen’;; statue and use it for another purpose. Those citizens that want to do that should collect a sum equal to tho sum promised tor that purpose, add tho two together, their put it to the vote of the people whether it should be used for the statue of our beloved Queen or some other purpose. TSyCtiOLOGY AGO SPIRITUALISM. Professor Mackenzie writes to explain that he did not, as reported, state in tiro course of his Sunuiiy evening lecture on “Psychology,” tiiat he “hoped psychology would ultimately become a science,” He adds ;—“Psychology in its academic acceptation is a science, and a science which, I. as lecturer (pro tern.) on mental science in V ictoria College, am called upon to teach. Spiritualists use ( lie term psychology as an equivalent of. or synonym for, ‘spiritualism,’ 1 challenged their right to use it thus, inasmuch as tho term, has boon already appropriated by philosophers for the ‘science of mind.' Spiritualism is not the science of mind ; unr can it, under its present conditions, bo called a ‘science’ at all. That- it may become a science is perfectly conceivable. When spiritualists can demonstrate to the ordinary mind what it is that differentiates tho ‘privileged’ medium from Gir’ ordinary mortal, then spiritualism will be in a fair way to become an accredited science. I made absolutely no reference to tho propriety of leaching either acadeiiuo or /spiritualistic psychology in, cur .schools. Xiet me reproduce what probably led your correspondent to >-e----preseut me as suggesting ‘that it might bo useful if the schools laok up certain branches of the subject.' Hero is tho only passage which could be so construed -ami it is an unwarrantable construction : 'lf our educational authorities gave some slight attention to “psychology” (i.e., academic psychology), if they considered the “conditions” of the development of tho human mind, . through its various stages from infancy to manhood, the present miscellaneous and congested educational “menu” would , not obtain long in our .schools/ Now, by j educational authorities I do not mean teachers and professors: I mean our , Education Department and our Education Hoards. Teachers and professors 1 are, for most part, mere educational ma- ’ chines. They have little or no erluca- ( tional initiative. Educational organi- j sation is in the. hands of amateurs. The c executive ,teachers mid professors) have , simply to ‘drive at practice’ in terms r ! of the legislation imposed by tho ama c teur organising hoard or department.” 2 Wo gladly correct the error, which, C doubtless, arose, as Mr Mackenzie s ug- i gosts, Irom failure to draw a' sharp line o of demarcation between tho academic and spiritualistic use of the term psychology. ‘ I

THIS RECEPTION OF ROYALTY,

It is only the first steps that count, and remembering; this adage, it is to he hoped that the initial stages of the arraugenumto for the reception of the Luke and Duchess of Cornwall in Wellington will be marked hy sound Judgment, harmony and hearty co-operation. This afternoon the committee of the C'ity Council and the executive of the Citizens’ Committee are to meet at the City Council Chambers to take the preliminary steps in organising celebrations and decorations in connection with the Royal visit. It in desirable that there should he a, full attendance, and that individual members, while going fully primed with suggestions, should be prepared to fall in with proposals other than their own which commend themselves to the judgment of the majority. It would also bo well if the Premier or other representative of the Government wore to attend and give the joint committee the benefit of his advice and of information regarding the exact part the Government intends to take in"the demonstrations of welcome to the capital of the colony. By cordial and unanimous action on the part of the Government, the City Council ami the Citizens’ Committee, the result should he achieved of a. series of popular events, illuminations and decorations that would make the visit of the Heir-Presumptive ever memorable,- and would he in every way worthy of the “Empire City.”